Door sight



June 16, 3942. c. A. EHEHALT, JR

DOOR SIGHT Filed May 4, 1940 INVENTOR CHARLES A. @EHE/94ZZ'J P.

ATTORNEY JOHN N. DOE

Patented June 16, 1942 UNITED STATES GFFICE DOOR SIGHT Charles A. Ehehalt, Jr., White Plains, N. Y.

Application May 4, 1940, Serial No. 333,439

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to door sights and embodies, more specifically, an improved device by means of which a person standing on the outside of a door may be viewed from within without knowledge of the fact that he is being observed.

Door sights have been designed and used heretofore in which persons on the outside of a door may be viewed from within but, in all such devices, the structure and operation is such that the person on the outside is conscious of the fact that he is being observed by someone from within.

It is obviously desirable, in some instances, to be able to see persons on the outside of the door without attracting their attention to the fact that someone is on the inside and looking at them through a device that is obviously designed for such purpose.

In accordance with the present invention, it is proposed to provide a door sight or similar mechanism by means of which a person on the outside of a door may be viewed from within without knowing that he is being observed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a door sight that is disguised in such fashion that a person on the outside of the door is not conscious of the fact that it is a device by means of which he may be observed from within.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character wherein means is provided for preventing light at the inside of a door from passing through the device to the outside while the device is being used to observe someone at the outside of the door.

Further objects of the invention will appear as it is described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of the inside of a door upon which a door sight has been installed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a View in horizontal section, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation showing the present invention as it is mounted upon a door.

Figure 4 is a view in rear elevation showing Figure 6 is a view in section, taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the above drawing, a doorway is illustrated at IU within which a door II is provided. In Figure 1, the door is shown from the inside and, upon this door structure, a device according to the present invention has been illustrated as installed thereon. This device consists of an inner plate l2 and an outer plate E3. The inner plate is mounted upon the inside of the door as illustrated in Figure 1, whereas the outer plate is secured to the outer door face. the two plates in position as illustrated in Figure 2, and a bore I5 is provided in the door in order that the proper observations can be made.

The front plate 13 is provided with a suitably formed aperture l6 (rectangular in the form shown in the drawing), while the inner plate I2 is provided with an aperture II, the apertures l5 and I! registering with the bore l5 as will be readily apparent in Figure 2.

Upon the rear face of plate I2, a tubular member I8 is formed, being preferably coaxial with the bore [5 and aperture l1, and having an enlarged cup-shaped portion :9 which serves as an eyepiece.

A shutter 20 is formed on an arm 2! that may conveniently be pivoted on one of the through bores l4 and extends outwardly to provide a handle 22. The inner side of the plate I2 is recessed at 23 to accommodate the arm 2| and shutter 20 and permit it to be moved from a closed position, as illustrated in solid lines in Figure 5, to an open position, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 5. In the closed position of the shutter 20, no light can pass in either direction through the bore I5 and the device is not in operation. In the open position, light may pass through and the device may be used for observing persons on the outside of the door.

In order that the persons who are being observed on the outside of the door may not be aware of the fact, the front plate l3 supports a mirror 24. For this purpose, it may be formed with a flange 25 that provides a rabbet within which the edges of the mirror may be received. The mirror is formed with one or more horizontal scratches 26 and also preferably one or more vertical scratches 21. The scratches are extremely thin and not apparent to anyone on the outside of the door, particularly because of the fact that light is being reflected from the mirrored surface into the eyes of one standing on the outside of the door and observing Through bolts l4 areprovided to secure the mechanism. When the device is being used and the eye of the person on the inside of the door is placed fairly close to the eyepiece l9, practically no light passes through the scratches from the inside and the person on the outside is not aware that he is being observed.

In order that the nature of the device may be concealed effectively, an aperture 28 is formed in the mirrored surface of the plate 24 and a name card secured in position behind such apertured portion. This name card is illustrated at 29 in Figure 3 and should, of course, be supported so that it does not obstruct the bore l5. In the drawing, this accomplished by cutting away the card opposite the scratches and bore I5. In this fashion, the plate I3, to the innocent observer, appears to be the name plate of the occupant of the house and such a person standing on the outside of a door will thus be quite unaware of the fact that he is being observed from within.

While the invention has been shown as embodied in the device illustrated in the foregoing drawing, it will be apparent that it may assume other shapes and proportions and it is not to be limited save as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

A door sight consisting of a front plate having an aperture with a transparent element therein, said element having a mirror surface with scratches therein presenting the appearance of a decorative design through which one can see outwardly of the door while the mirror surface reflects light outwardly adjacent the scratches to prevent view inwardly thereof, a rear plate having an aperture through which at least a portion of the scratched area is viewable, an eye tube on said rear plate coinciding with said aperture, whereby light is prevented from passing to the scratches in the mirror surface when the eye of a person is applied to the tube, the side of said rear plate opposite said front plate being provided with a recessed portion the area of which includes said aperture, a shutter disposed in said recessed portion between said rear plate and said door, and means for moving said shutter to open position after the light is blocked off by the person viewing outwardly through said tube.

CHARLES A. EHEHALT, JR. 

